Louis tassius



LOUIS TASSIUS, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

Letters Patent No. 81,033, dated August 1.1, ISGS.

IMPROVED ARTIFICIAL LEG.-

a'tLe Saphire ttrrtct tu in tlgtst ttttets ntcnt zum matting gaat nf tigt smits.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY OONCERN:

Be it known that I, LOUIS TASSIUS, M. D., of Norwalk, in the county of Huron, in the State of Ohio, have invented a New Articulated Artificial Leg; and I lo hereby declare that lthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. 4

My invention is distinguishedfrom all others hitherto invented by numerous advantages, both as regards generalmechanism and lightness.

4 Figure 1, side view of the positions of the springs II and L, of the steel heel K, of the incision G, of the knee in copper, G, of thesteel bands P Q R, and by the steel bandage Skeneircling the thigh. I

Figure 2, a front view, the position of the sling A.

Figure 3, back view, the position of the steel plate I, which holds the springs L H, the steel heel K.

Figure 4, view of the sole of the'foot, position of the spring F.

The spring supports the foot by forminga stirrup, passes by B upon the knee D, by C and O as far as the buckle. There it is tightened as much as necessary.

In a standing posture, the slingA rests on the shoulder, and it acts upon the entire mechanism, The knee cannotl bend when the heel touches the ground. In a sitting posture, on the contrary, the sling slips by B and Gin such a way as to allow the natural flexion ofthe' copper knee, which is then seen pijecting through they hole drilled in the general leather envelope.

View of the Sole of the Foot.

Beneath the sole of'the foot there is a spring-plate, which, by means of the articulation G,'bends upwards and downwards, according as the foot is or is not on the ground.

The spring H is riveted to the plate I, which is fixed betweenthe two bands, Q, of the tibia. This spring pushes the heelvK` when the foot presses the ground.` This is an advantage quite unknown in all preceding systems, according to which the foot advances by a sliding movement, either direct or circular, at the risk of coming in contact with all sorts of obstacles, and producing a fall.

The spring L isattached at the lower extremity, by a hook, to thenpper extremity of the plate I, and at the corresponding end of the plate by a leather, N, which is fixed to the thigh. It only'alcts when the stump being inserted in the upper extremity ofthe apparatus, the thigh is raised, and then, by the mere movement 'of the stump, the mechanism is acted upon, and produces a flexion ofthe knee--an effect hitherto never obtained.

The action of the sling, when it is drawn back te its natural position after the bending of the knee, allows theleg to' stretch, and make a step in advance,and then, and in tue most natural manner possible, the weight of the bodybeing thrown forward, and acting upon the articulation ofthe foot, stimulates the wearer to take another step, and so on as long as he wishes.

TLeEzternal Envelope; the Inward Working; the Weight, and the Form.

The external of this leg is a mass of hardened papier-mache, surrounded with a coat of gum, and then with an envelope in leather, or, ii' economyvbe an object, in linen cloth. These envelopes are pierced with little holes, V, to prevent the eifects of perspiration.

The average weight of this leg, with itsaccessories, is about two kilogrammes. It may beA from fifteen to twenty centigrammes heavier, according to the size. The envelope alone weighs seventy-five centigrammcs. The whole presents thc appearance of a masculine and well-formed leg.

The axle (in French, )M of thebend of the knee, andthe instep, are of copper, and work intcriorly with a cylindrical rotation across the rounds of the steel bands. They are riveted externally on the copper plate. The bands Q and R, and the circle, S, of the thigh, are solidly tired to the envelope.

The-steel bands are attached to the foot, and envelope it in the form of a. stiirup.

A heel, R, in steel, encloses the heel in walnut wood. Between the two is a leather tongue, to break the shocks, which might react upon the strrup.

On the thigh, the circle and the bands are placell externally, in order not to compress the stirrup. They extendjo S, where they arerjoinerl to the banfls ot' tli'e bottom of the leg, wliicn are concealed and act in the interior. A

W'hat Ifclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-v l The herein-described artificial leg, consisting et' the heel-plate K, stirrup P, springs H L, links Q R, and sling A, all constructed and arranged to operate, in combination with the articulated foot T and leg T', in the manner substantially as set forth.

LOUIS TASSIUS.

Witnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGH, PETER A. BIsnoP. 

